The Moonwind Mysteries
The Queen of Thieves (Book 2)
The Queen of Thieves The Moonwind Mysteries by Swedish author Johan Rundberg is an engaging story about a young group of orphans inherently looking for a loving home. Originally written in Swedish, this story is the second in The Moonwind Mysteries. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until I finished this story did I realize it was the second in a series. Despite a somewhat shortened falling action and conclusion, I did enjoy the story and plan to go back and read book one and book three.
Set in the 1800s, the story follows Mika, a twelve-year-old assistant to Amelia, the leader of the orphanage in which the orphans all live. Mika has questions about her own past, some of which she uncovers on her own and some that Amelia is willing to divulge. Unfortunately, some of the orphans close to Mika disappear. In searching for the missing orphans, Mika discovers that they have been taken in by a lady known as Henrietta. Thinking the orphans have been turned into thieves, Mika seeks help from a local policeman she has worked with before. Despite his assistance, Mika herself is arrested, fakes her death, learns how to pick locks, and must come face to face with who Henrietta really is. Fortunately, Mika is able to survive and to solve the mystery before it is too late.
Noteworthy quotes/ mentions:
Mika sometimes thinks back on the past. At one point she has a memory of children she found hiding. “Emaciated, starved, terrified children, their bodies covered in marks from beatings and rat bites” (31).
There is a mention on page 41 about magpies being an omen for death.
When Mika confronts Henrietta about Ossian and Kristina, Henrietta replies, “They’re a part of my family” [...] “Well, they’re not my own children, of course, but I’m sure someone with your background will appreciate that families can come in different guises” (57-58).
There is an infant, Nora, who was left at the orphanage. Mika cares for her and there are concerns at some points as to whether or not Nora will survive. Mika is dedicated to caring for her.
On page 126-127, Nora is weak and Mika thinks she might be dead. Fortunately, she is not.
“It’s as if the orphanage is sucking the life out of Nora. She needs to be given a real home where everyone cares about her” (129).
Mika must disguise herself after breaking out of prison and being presumed dead. She cuts her hair and puts on clothes that do not belong to her. On page 87, Mika is seeing herself and is shocked. The text states, “What was she expecting? A girl dressed as a boy, maybe. Whatever it was, she certainly wasn’t expecting to see this. The reflection looking back at her belongs to a completely different person, a stranger she has never seen before, both boy and girl at the same time. [...] She hardly recognizes herself.”
Thinking about the children one night before planning to leave, Mika’s thoughts state “Even if the children are provided with their daily bread and a bed to sleep in, they’ll always be easy to lure away with promises of something more. Because, despite their differences, they all share the same dream: the dream of another life, one beyond the orphanage” (97).
On page 121-122, Henrietta tells Mika a story about her birth, claiming that her father was a nobleman that had a brief affair with her mother, her mother then lived the rest of her days in shame for “having a child out of wedlock.”
“Anger swells inside Mika, like a kicked wasp’s nest, but she manages to keep it in check. Anger is dangerous. It causes a lack of focus, hasty decisions, and poor judgment” (158).
On page 172-173, Mika believes that Henrietta intends to kill Kristina as a diversion to steal a gem. Mika waves a signal and a separate diversion allows for Kristina to be rescued.
Speaking of Henrietta, “She was a predator” [...] “And predators seek out victims who appear weak and offer no resistance” (193).
“It’s not enough just to keep a child alive. A child also needs to be given hope. Hope that they might become more than just cheap labor” (195).
Overall, there is more build up to the climax than the action to resolve it, but the story is well told and engaging. Even though I started in the middle of the series, there are enough details and information that readers are not completely lost. Additionally, there is great messaging about watching for deception and what it looks like to care for others. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
